nurseredd

""""Basically, when I got the LPN, they were starting to "phase out" LPNs (and, side note to new nurses: don't even bother getting an LPN. You might as well just be a CNA, because that's how you'll be treated). And then as soon as I got the ADN, it's like I'm right back to where I was with the LPN. It's not good enough. Being an RN isn't good enough! It's so f*cking ridiculous."""""" Your statement is COMPLETELY false. I am an LPN, I work as a charge nurse, I am also a nurse preceptor. I make more than my RN counterparts, not to mention I precept them. Get off your high horse!

Oh yes, you are very correct! Haha. What I REALLY wanted to say to her vs what the professional me said are two very different things!

Kelly, first of all, congratulations on your new career as a nurse! Now, some advice from a seasoned LPN who also once-upon-a-time couldn't say no. YOU CANNOT BE THE HERO. YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING. You are compromising your own safety and your own sanity by working 5am-12am. Secondly, you are compromising your patients safety! As a new nurse, you are still devising your routine & your work flow plan...that in itself makes for a much more exhausting shift. IT IS OK TO SAY "NO". I learned how to say no 6 months into my nursing career when I was working 60-70 hours a week. It was during this time I made my first (and only) narcotic error. This error was careless, yes, but I am certain my overworked mind had something to do with it. I was written up, disciplined and I recovered. But if I wasn't saying "yes" to everyone I'd put money on it that this error wouldn't have happened. MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING. Keep in mind, working all that OT will slam you in taxes anyway :) Remember, money is NOT worth your sanity either. You're a nurse, not superwoman. You need time to LIVE LIFE. There's more to LIFE than work. COFFEE was my best friend as a new grad & still is. Treat yourself to a spa day. You deserve it :)

First and foremost, do NOT put this job on a resume. You were hired as a new grad and you are better off applying to future jobs with no experience than with getting fired on your first job. Secondly, as a new grad nurse, you need to change your "woe is me" attitude. I am a nurse preceptor at my current job. Keep in mind, not all nurses are offered preceptorship titles, so a nurse who is is seasoned and well versed on the ins-and-outs of their particular unit. As a new grad, you are there to learn how to do your job. Nursing school teaches us how to pass the NCLEX, our first nursing job teaches us how to be nurses! You may not have seen eye-to-eye with your preceptor, but in that case, why didn't you speak to your supervisor? Perhaps change preceptors? It seems that instead of being productive, proactive and explaining yourself like an adult you were demeaning which, as a new grad, you have no place to be. It is VERY hard to get fired from a job in healthcare, keep that in mind. Best of luck to you at your next job...please take your mistakes from this one as a learning experience.

Thank you all so much for your responses :) As the charge nurse I do have the authority to discipline & write the CNA up, which I will be doing tomorrow when I see her. Additionally, state BON responded, of course stating CNA's can most certainly change leg bag to bedside bag.

Sounds like a fake to me! RN & LPN new grads who have passed the NCLEX both make well over $19/hour. Sounds like he is still waiting for boards approval. A graduate RN or LPN can work as a "intern nurse" or "graduate nurse" while waiting to take NCLEX but their scope is severely limited.

I am a LTC charge nurse on a psych/behavioral unit. CNA from another floor was moved to my floor as a regular. One patient has a foley, so she gets a leg bag during the day, then a larger bag at night for bedside. CNA last night refuses to change the bag from leg to bedside, stating it is "not in my scope of practice and I do not know how to do it". I'm big on education, so I told her I would gladly teach her how to do it, but she continued to refuse stating its not in her scope. Ultimately, she did watch me do it, but continued to repeat herself. Now, I've been a nurse for several years and this is the first time I have ever had a CNA tell me changing a foley bag isn't in their scope, this is not a skilled procedure. My supervisor agreed it is in the CNA scope. I have emailed my states BON to get scope clarification as I could not find any reliable information via the internet. Currently I am awaiting a response. CNA is aware I emailed the BON, however, she still is adamant she will not change the bag even if they say she can because "I googled it and google says I can't". Very frustrating! Nevertheless, any other nurses had this issue with CNAs? Any advice?! I typically have a good rapport with my CNAs and this is honestly the first time I've had an issue like this. I will involve my supervisor if I must, but I prefer to handle things on my unit independently, especially petty issues.

Yes, you can address this with family without being insulting. Rather than staying opinion "nasty" state facts "today mr jones attempted to hit staff 3 times and is throwing things in his room. Any suggestions on how to help him".

At my workplace she would have been terminated on the spot. Since that did not happen, perhaps she will get suspended. Regardless, she falsified information by logging in as another user, which is dishonest. I'm not sure I'd want to work with a nurse like this.

I am a LTC nurse on a psych floor and LOVE it as well. I also work per diem in the hospital. I've learned amazing time management skills working LTC (ahem 32 patients on a 2 hour window for meds!)

5 minutes to process skin tear paperwork? Can I work where you work please?! Haha

Update: I wanted to thank you all for your input. As of 12/19/15 my DON will no longer be employed by my company. He was offered a "leave or get fired" type deal. It feels like Christmas came early.

Thank you. The buyout officially goes through 12/1/15 meaning the new company is in the building. Come to find out, almost every single nurse/CNA in the building has a bone to pick with the DON. So we're all going to the president of the new company 12/1/15, and we have all detailed written statements. Power in numbers, right? Luckily, I have two per diem jobs, so if they decided to let us all go I won't be poor on the streets!

This person is a nurse, yes. He's a BSN-RN who has been a nurse for about 8 years. Myself (and other nurses at work) suspect he's never done the charge/floor nursing work, but there's no way to know for sure. The new company officially takes over us 12/1/15, so myself & a team of the nurses/CNA's at my work are waiting for the changeover to all go up against him to the president of the company. Apparently I am not the only one receiving this treatment!

Thank you! I HIGHLY doubt that poster is really a nurse!

Stop applying for nursing jobs and seek therapy to get down to the cause of your issues with mine. You will not thrive or last as a nurse with this attitude, trust me.

Update from my shift tonight: DON was previosly fired from the company who bought us out. (Active 12-1-15).

also my report wasn't "strongly worded" not did I say that in my post. My statement was factual. He wanted me to chane it to avoid a paper trail. Since you are accusatory, stick to lurking. That's MY two cents:)

I 100% disagree with you. LTC patients are VERY often sent to the ER, first of all. LTC is not hospice! Secondly, I did not "overreact" nurses are mandatory reporters and all the nurses I have ever worked with report violent behaviors be it patient to patient or patient to staff. Her behaviors were charted on, urine negative. I don't know that state you are in but err in CT we do things the right way. Family members can sue the facility for unreported violence.

ugh this stinks because I LOVE my job. Im going to contact my states BON and see what they suggest.

I'm 100% sure. My supervisors, patients, families all compliment me on my work. I've never been written up or reprimanded. Not saying I am perfect, but I keep my unit in control. colpany who bought us is union. I live in CT - not sure if its a right to work state

Our corporate is useless. We were just bought out so the new company comes in end of December. He's such a winner even the patients hate him.

You are 100% correct in what you did on YOUR shift. It is up to the day shift nurse to medicate appropriately for her/his shift. You assessed to be certain patients were comfortable before giving report. As a nurse, you are not there to shove pills down the throats of patients. Furthermore, PT isn't going to be on the floor before breakfast at 7am, so what good is that PRN going to do being passed at 6:45am? Do what you feel is right on your shift. Sounds like the day nurse was lazy and didn't want to deal with assessing these patients for PRN's.

Yes, but my handling my unit has nothing to do with this patients behavior. He also cannot let me go for that statement, considering my lack-there-of any disciplinary write ups. Luckily, DON doesn't do any of our performance evals, supervisors do. Side note: this patient has been like a kitten since being started on Divalproex, which is phenomenal. I'm debating reporting him to my states BON, but have no idea how to do this in a manner where I am taking seriously. I'd imagine they get tons of complaints!